Open top display refrigerating apparatus



Oct. 5, 1954 J. R. PICHLER 2,690,650

OPEN TOP DISPLAY REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed sept. 23, 41952 5sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR. Joseph R. Pichler rnv' @CL 5, 1954 J. R.PlcHLER 2,690,650

OPEN TOP DISPLAY REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 25, 1952 3Sheets-Sheet 2 l INVENToR. Fig- 6 Joseph R. Pichler 06% 5, 1954 J. R.PICHLER OPEN TOP DISPLAY REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 25, 1952 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented oet. 5, 1954 2,690,650

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OPEN TOP DISPLAY REFRIGERATING APPARATUSJoseph R. Pichler, Dayton, Ohio, assigner to General Motors Corporation,Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application September 23,1952, Serial No. 310,959

Claims. l

This invention relates to refrigerated display cases.

An object of my invention is to provide improvements in the constructionof substantially open top refrigerated food storage and display cabinetsand to improve the circulation of air in such cabinets.

Another object of my invention is to provide a more uniform circulationA,of air upwardly 2 application of Marshall W. Baker S. N. 193,795 filedNovember 3, 1950, Patent No. 2,661,604 dated December 8, 1953.

Referring now to the drawings, for illustrating the present improvementinvention, I show in Figure 1 thereof an elongated substantially opentop refrigerated food storage and display case generally represented bythe reference character I0. This display case includes a cabinetprothrough narrow elongated vertically disposed 10 vided with a longside or rear vertical wall II hollow iiues dividing a food supportingdevice lo- (see Figure 2), a bottom wall I2, a long side or cated in anopen top display case into a plurality front vertical wall I4 andvertical end walls I5 of food storage compartments. and I6, The WallsIl, I2, I4, I5 and I are A further object of my invention is to provideformed by spaced apart inner and outer metal means for preventing theaccumulation of moisl5 sheets or panels having suitable insulatingmature, frost or ice on elements Within an open terial therebetween asis conventional in the art. top low temperatured food storage anddisplay All the upright or vertical walls of cabinet I!) case exposed toair which enters the case. terminate in substantially the samehorizontal A still further and more specific object of my plane. Amultiple glass pane structure I'I forms invention is to provide scoopsalong vertically the upper portion of the front Wall I4 and exextendinghollow flues in a refrigerated display tends from one end Wall I5 to theother end case for directing air circulated about the case Wall Iiiv toprovide a window through which and particularly beneath and in adirection parfoods or paekaged fOOd DrOdllCtS 011 diSpiaY in allelingthe open bottom end of the flues up- Jehe Cabinet 01 CaSe may be VieWed-A Semiwardly therethrough. ceiling I8 extends from the long side or rearwall Further objects and advantages of the present II forwardly a shortdistance over the cabinet invention will be apparent from the followingor case, relative to the other long side or 'front description,reference being had to the accom- Weil I4, t0 DIOVide an Opening ai: thebep 0f panying drawings, wherein a preferred form of CaSe i0 eS G0permit CllSOmeIS 110 Teach inte the present invention is clearly shown.the case and remove articles therefrom which In the drawings: theydesire to purchase. While I have sho'wn Figure 1 is a perspective Viewof a substanthe display case IIJ as including the semi-ceiling tiallyopen top low temperature frozen food I8 it is to be understood that thesemi-ceiling storage and display case having my invention may be emittedt0 pfeVide aCCeSS through the embodied therein; open top of the casefrom either side thereof.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view A Sheet metal member 2|(See Figure 2) eX- of the display case shown in Figure '1 and is tendsfrom end to end of case I0 throughout the taken on the line 2 2 thereof;length thereof and is secured in any suitable Figure 3 is an enlargedfragmentary horior desirable manner, to a plurality of substan- Zontalsectional view of a portion of the display 40 iaily Z-Sheped 01' thelike metal brackets 22 ease and is taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;spaced apart alone and mounted upon the lone Figure 4 is an enlargedfragmentary vertical beek Weil1 0f the Case The Sheet member sectionalview taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 2| iS Supported from the 1011front Wall i4 0f showing an air scoop associated with a vertical Cabinetl0 by being 1110111117611 0n en angie IOII flue; 23 secured, in anysuitable manner, to a closure Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentaryvertical member 24 having offset portions bolted to wall sectional viewtaken on the line 5 5 of Figure 3; I4. This closure member 24 serves adual purand pose in a construction of the type disclosed which Figure 6is en enlarged fragmentary sectional will become apparent from thefollowing descripview showing a deneetor over an air passage at tion.Member 2l is vertically spaced from the the rear of the display case andhaving heating means associated therewith.

This application is specifically directed to improvements inrefrigerated display cases of the type disclosed and described in thecopending cabinet bottom wall I2 to divide the interior of case H3,intermediate its bottom and open top, into an upper chamber 26 and alower chamber 21. The brackets 22 and closure member 24 project inwardlyof the side Walls Il and I4 respectively of case I and the edges ofmember 2| are spaced from these side walls, throughout the length of thecase, to provide a vertical uptake air passage 2S along wall and avertical return air passage 29 along wall lll. The air passages 28 and23 provide communication between the upper and lower chambers 2E and 21respectively of case lil. A bent inwardly projecting part 3| (see Figure5) of closure member 2G extends along the long or front side wall ofcase l above the dividing member 2|. A thick at metal strip 33 extendsalong the other long side or rear wall of case Ii! above member 2| andis carried by an inturned bent portion 31| on the horizontally spacedapart back brackets 22. The part 3| of closure member 2li and strip 33form longitudinally extending mounting rails or the like for receiving afood supporting and storage device to now be described.

A food supporting device or structure is located in the upper chamber 2Bof case l0 and rests on the longitudinal rails 3| and 33. This structureor device is coextensive with the dividing member 2| and comprises aplurality of imperforate portions in the form of flat plates 3G spacedvertically from member 2| to provide a passageway 31 therebetween whichextends horizontally substantially across the interior of the case andhas an inlet communicating with the uptake air passage 2S. Plates 35 aredisposed in spaced side-by-side relation and form the bottom of the foodsupporting device. The other front side or end of passageway 31 isclosed by closure member 24 and a plurality of elongated openings 38 areprovided in member 2|, spaced inwardly of closure member 24, to form airoutlets for the passageway 31 communicating with the lower chamber 21.It will be noted that divider member 2| forms the bottom wall ofpassageway 31 and the top wall of lower chamber 21. The food supportingdevice also comprises a plurality of narrow sleeve-like hollow verticalmetal ues 39 disposed between the plates 3E (see Figure 3) and havingoutwardly directed feet il located beneath the edge portion of plates35. Flues 39 extend transversely of the display case substantiallyacross the food supporting device and are horizontally spaced apartalong the length thereof. These ues provide double walled partitionsdividing the food supporting device and consequently the interior ofupper chamber 26 into a plurality of open top food receiving and storingcompartments. The food supporting device further includes a verticallydisposed long glass plate 43 forming the front wall thereof and avertical metal plate 44 forming the rear wall of the device. Plate 43 issupported upon the inwardly directed part 3| o closure member 2!! andhas its lower edge imbedded in suitable resilient material 16 encased inmetal elements 41 and 48 which are secured to part 3| in any desired orconventional manner (see Figure 5). An angular deiiector i9 is hookedover metal element 41 for a purpose to be hereinafter described andprovides a space under the hooked portion thereof for the reception ofelectric resistance heating means 5|. Glass plate 43 is spaced from themultiple glass pane windowed wall portion Il' of the front wall l@ ofcase i3 and forms an upward continuation of the return air passage 29.Metal plate M. is spaced from the inner surface of the case rear wall toform an upper continuation of the uptake air passage 23 at the back ofthe cabinet. Plate 44 has an inturned foot portion secured between therail 33 and the part 34 on the back brackets 22. The plates 43. |34 andthe upper end of iiues 39 terminate below the top of the upright wallsof case l. A cap 53, provided with a plurality of air outlet openings5t, is located over the open upper end of each of the lues 3S. The caps53 are telescoped over the flues so as to be readily removed therefrom.Openings 54 in caps 33 are adapted to direct air egressing from theupper end of ucs 39 laterally and downwardly onto and over food storedin the compartments adjacent the flues.

An angularly disposed metal piece 56 and a curved metal piece 51 bothsecured to the inner surface of the inner panel of the case back wall(see Figure 6) cooperate to form a deflector cap over the uptake airpassage 28 and an electric resistance heating means 53 is secured tometal piece 5S within the space between this piece and the curved metalpiece 51. An electric resistance heating means GI is imbedded in theinsulating material of walls l5 and I and disposed in heat exchangerelationship with the inner metal surface or panel of these walls.Similar electric resistance heating means E2 and 63 are mounted underrubber or the like gaskets 5S and 61 respectively at opposite sides ofthe lower portion of multiple pane glass front wall structure i1 of caseICI (see Figure 5). The upper part of the multiple pane glass structure|1 carries a metal lamp bracket 68, containing a suitable lamp such as aiuorescent bulb E59, and an electric resistance heating means 1| islocated in thermal exchange relationship with the under side of thisbracket (see Figure l). The purpose of all these electric heating meanswill be described hereinafter.

An elongated refrigerant evaporator 1S, forming a part of a closedrefrigerating system (not shown), is disposed within the lower chamber21 of display case l0 and the refrigerating effect produced by thisevaporator provides refrigerating means which cools the air within thecase to a sub-freezing temperature. Evaporator 12 may be of any suitableor conventional construction and is preferably of the tube and fm typeextending substantially throughout the length of case ID. A plate 11forms a lower extension of the uptake air passage 28 into the bottomchamber 21. A vertical metal partition 18 within lower chamber 21 of thedisplay case extends substantially throughout the length thereof and isprovided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart round openings19. A fan or blower 8|, driven by an electric motor 82, is located ineach of the openings 19. These fans form means for forcing air over theevaporator 13 where it is cooled thereby and thereafter circulatedthroughout the interior of case I@ in a manner to now be described.

Operation of the refrigerating system causes evaporation of refrigerantwithin evaporator 1G, as is well-known to those skilled in the art, andthe energization of each motor 82 rotates the same to drive the fans 8l.Rotation of fans or blowers 8| causes the same to create a low pressurearea within chamber 21 of case I in the vicinity of the return airpassage 29 and draws air therefrom and circulates this air over theevaporator. This causes air to be withdrawn from the upper food storagechamber 26 of the display case IG. Air cooled by evaporator 16 is forcedunder plate 11 and upwardly through the uptake air passage 28. The inletend of horizontal passageway 31 is an open communication with the airduct or passage 28, intermediate its ends, and some of the cold airflowing upwardly in the duct or passage will enter the passageway 31.Air entering passageway 31 flows transversely across the display case ina direction paralleling the fues 39. The open bottom ends of the flues39 communicate with passageway 31 and the food supporting device`divides the air entering this passageway into a plurality of streams ofair some of which flow upwardly through the flues 39 and are dischargedover or upon frozen food products stored in the food storagecompartments while the other streams of air flow from the inlet end ofpassageway 31 to a point adjacent the front portion of case I0. Theseother or transversely flowing streams of air are directed out ofpassageway 31, by way of the openings 38 in divider member 2|,downwardly into the lower chamber 21 without exposure to air exteriorlyof the case. These other streams of air are mixed with air egressingfrom the return air passage 29, within chamber 21, and are thus temperedor blended prior to flow thereof over evaporator 16. At this time airflowing upwardly through the uptake air passage 28 is directed, by thedeflector cap means, formed by the metal pieces 56 and 51, into the foodstorage compartments and over or upon foods therein. Air discharged fromthe flues 39 and from the uptake passage 28 flow toward the front of theopen top `display case and over the top of glass plate 43 into thereturn air duct or passage 29. Thus air flowing over or into the foodsupporting device provides a lm or blanket of air, at a below-freezingtemperature, over foods stored in the upper chamber 26. The aircirculation described provides a flow of cold air along the bottom ofthe food compartments and also along all upstanding walls thereof aswell as into direct contact with packaged foods stored in thecompartments.

It has been discovered that, due to the air being circulated acrosspassageway 31 in a direction parallel to the extention of the ilues 39,this cold air will not readily rise into the flues. This is particularlytrue in a structure of the type herein disclosed in the vicinity of thefront side of passageway 31 where the fans or blowers tend to create alow pressure area. I therefore provide means which insure a positiveflow of sufficient air upwardly through these ilues at or adjacent totheir forward ends. For this purpose I locate one or more means withinpassageway 31 which cooperate with the open bottom end of flues 39 forscooping a portion of the air flowing across passageway 31 into theflues for circulation upwardly therethrough. This means in the presentdisclosure includes air scoops formed of a metal piece having asubstantially U-shaped portion 86 (see Figure 3) and integral laterallyextending wings 81 disposed at an angle relative to the flues 39 andsecured to the feet 4I thereof by rivets or the like B8 (see Figures 3and 4). The angular disposition of wings 81 of the air scoops formfunnel-like obstructions in the path of air flowing from the rear orinlet end substantially to the front or other end of passageway 31 anddirects some of this air upwardly into the ilues 39. Wings 81 are spacedvertically from divider member ZI to permit some of the air to passtherebetween. Each air scoop also includes another metal piece 89 (seeFigure 4), secured to the U-shaped portion 86 of the winged metal pieceby bolts 9|, having a tongue 92 extending angularly up into the flues 39a short distance.

It is desired to prevent the cold air iiowing in passageway 31 fromcontacting the front portions of the passageway forming means so as toprevent the formation of frost or ice on the elements exposed to thereturn air duct or passage 29. For this reason I prevent the ow of airout of the front end of passageway 31 by blocking the same with closuremember 24 and provide deilecting means within passageway 31 intermediateclosure member 24 and the spaced apart elongated openings 38 in dividedmember 2I to prevent the by-passed cold air from contacting the closuremember along the passageway 31. This deiiecting means comprises a metalbaille angularly secured within the passageway 31 (see Figures 1 and 5)and extending throughout the length of the food supporting device.Baiile Sli forms a dead air pocket between it and the closure member 24and serves to direct that portion of the air passing the air scoops inpassageway 31 out of this passageway and downwardly into the displaycase bottom chamber 21 by way of the openings 38.

Moisture in air which infiltrates the display case through its open toptends to collect, in the form of condensation, frost or ice, on the coldsurfaces of elements of the case exposed thereto. According to myinvention I reduce or prevent such collection or accumulation by warmingthe cold surfaces of the exposed elements. This is the purpose of theelectric heating meansl 5I, 58, 6I, 32, 53 and 1 I. These electric meanscomprise lengths of suitably insulated wires which offer resistance tothe flow of electric current therethrough and thus become warm. Thewires 5I, 58, BI, 62, 63, and II may be secured in place to the variouselements or parts of display case I, hereinbefore described, in anysuitable or wellknown manner. Heat dissipated by the resistance wiresprevents condensation of moisture out of the infiltrated air to therebymaintain the elements of the display case exposed to such air clear ofmoisture, frost or ice. For example, heat dissipated by wires 5I,together with the fact that cold air flowing across passageway 31 isprevented from contacting the passageway and closure member 29, inaddition to preventing the formation of frost on the inner metal wall ofreturn air passage 29 also maintains the glass plate 43 clear ofmoisture. Heat dissipated by wires 58 is transmitted to the airdeflector cap, formed by the metal pieces 5S and 51, to keep the uppersurface of this deflector free of frost. Heat transmitted to themultiple pane glass structure I1 by wires 62 and G3 maintains the innerand outer surfaces of this structure clear of moisture condensation topermit viewing the contents of the display case through this structure.Heat applied to the upper portion of the display case walls Il, I 5 andI9 by wires 3| prevent condensa-tion of moisture on these walls andeliminate flow of condensate water downwardly therealong. Wires 1I heatthe top surface of lamp bracket E8 to prevent the collection ofcondensate thereon.

In view of the foregoing it should be apparent that I have providedimprovements in the construction of display case which produces auniform and more cicient flow of air upwardly through vertical fluesfrom the one end to the other end thereof. Ey directing the cold airpassing through the Icy-pass horizontal passagewat1 out of the sameinwardly of its front portion frost or ice is prevented from building upon the wall of the return air passage and obstructing the flow of airtherethrough. Also by providing meansfor warming elements of an open topdisplay case exposed to air which enters the same I prevent theaccumulation of moisture, frost or ice thereon.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosedconstitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. In a refrigerated display case, a food supporting device therein,means spaced from the bottom of said device and forming a passagewaytherebetween, said device including spaced apart hollow vertical luesextending thereacross and dividing the same into a plurality of foodstorage compartments, said flucs having their bottom end communicatingwith said passageway, means for cooling air within said case, means forcirculating at least some of the cooled air into said passageway in adirection paralleling said ues, and means cooperating with the openbottom end of said flues and extending laterally therefrom within saidpassageway for scooping a portion of the air circulated thereintoupwardly through said ues.

2. In a refrigerated display case, a food supporting device therein,means spaced from the bottom of said device and forming a passagewaytherebetween, said device including spaced apart hollow vertical fluesextending thereacross and dividing the same into a plurality of foodstorage compartments, said flues having their bottom end communicatingwith said passageway, means for cooling air within said case, means forcirculating at least some of the cooled air into said passageway in adirection paralleling said flues, means cooperating with the open bottomend of said flues and extending laterally therefrom within saidpassageway for scooping a portion of the air circulated thereintoupwardly through said ilues, and means within said passageway beyondsaid air scooping means for directing that portion of the air passingsaid scooping means downwardly out of said passageway.

3. In a refrigerated display case, a food supporting device therein,means spaced from the bottom of said device and forming a passagewaytherebetween, said device including spaced apart hollow vertical luesextending thereacross and dividing the same into a plurality of foodstorage compartments, said ues having their bottom end communicatingwith said passageway, means for cooling air within said case, means forcirculating at least some of the cooled air from one side tosubstantially the other side of said passageway in a directionparalleling said lues, air scoops cooperating with the open bottom endof said hollow ues for directing a portion of the air flowing into saidpassageway upwardly through said flues, said air scoops including wingsdisposed in said passageway and extending laterally from the sides ofsaid flues, and said air scoops also including a tongue extendingangularly upwardly into said flues.

4. In a refrigerated display case, a food supporting device therein,means spaced from the bottom of said device and forming a passagewaytherebetween, said device including spaced apart hollow vertical fluesextending thereacross and dividing the same into a plurality of foodstorage compartments, said flues having their bottom end communicatingwith said passageway, means for cooling air within said case, means forcirculating at least some of the cooled air from one side to osubstantially the other side of said passageway in a directionparalleling said nues, air scoops cooperating with the open bottom endof said hollow ues for directing a portion of the air owing into saidpassageway upwardly through said nues, said air scoops including wingsdisposed in said passageway and extending laterally from the sides ofsaid nues, said air scoops also including a tongue extending angularlyupwardly into said flues, and a baie within said passageway extendingalong said other side thereof for directing that portion of the airpassing said scoops downwardly out of the passageway.

5. In a refrigerated display case, a food supporting device therein,means spaced from the bottom of said device and forming a passagewaytherebetween, said device including spaced apart hollow vertical fluesextending thereacross and dividing the same into a plurality of foodstorage compartments, said flues having their bottom end communicatingwith said passageway, means for cooling air within said case, means forcirculating at least some of the cooled air from one side tosubstantially the other side of said passageway in a directionparalleling said nues, closure means for said other side of saidpassageway, means cooperating with the open bottom end of said nues andextending laterally therefrom within said passageway for scooping aportion of the air circulated thercinto upwardly through said nues, anda bafe within said passageway and spaced inwardly from said closuremeans for directing that portion of the air passing said scoopsdownwardly out of the passageway.

6. In a refrigerated display case, a food supporting device therein,means spaced from the bottom of said device and forming a passagewaytherebetween, said device including spaced apart hollow vertical nuesextending thereacross and dividing the same into a plurality of foodstorage compartments, said ues having their bottom end communicatingwith said passageway, means for cooling air within said case, means forcirculating at least some of the cooled air from one side tosubstantially the other side of said passageway in a directionparalleling said nues, closure means for said other side of saidpassageway, air scoops cooperating with the open bottom end of saidhollow flues for directing a portion of the air flowing into saidpassageway upwardly through said lues, said air scoops including wingsdisposed in said passageway and extending laterally from the sides ofsaid nues and a tongue extending angularly upwardly thereinto, and meanswithin said passageway spaced inwardly from said closure means thereoffor directing that portion of the air passing said scoops downwardly outof the passageway.

7. In a refrigerated display case, a food supporting device therein,means spaced from the bottom of said device and forming a passagewaytherebetween, said device including spaced apart hollow vertical fiuesextending thereacross and dividing the same into a plurality of foodstorage compartments, said lues having their bottom end communicatingwith said passageway, means for cooling air within said case, means forcirculating at least some of the cooled air into said passageway in adirection paralleling said flues, means cooperating with the open bottomend of said ues for scooping a portion of the air circulated into saidpassageway upwardly through said ues, said air scooping means includingwings disposed in said passageway in spaced relation to said rst namedmeans and extending 9 laterally from the sides of said flues, and saidair scooping means also including a tongue extending angularly upwardlyinto said nues.

8. In a refrigerated display case, a food supporting device therein,means spaced from the bottom of said device and forming a passagewaytherebetween, said device including spaced apart hollow vertical nuesextending thereacross and dividing the same into a plurality of foodstorage compartments, said ues having their bottom end communicatingwith said passageway, means for cooling air within said case, means forcirculating at least some of the cooled air into said passageway in adirection paralleling said lues, means cooperating with the open bottomend of said flues for scooping a portion of the air circulated into saidpassageway upwardly through said flues, said air scooping meansincluding wings disposed in said passageway in spaced relation to saidiirst named means and extending laterally from the sides of said lues,and a tongue extending angularly upwardly into said nues, and meanswithin said passageway beyond said air scooping means for directing thatportion of the air passing said scooping means downwardly out of saidpassageway.

9. in a refrigerated display case, a cabinet including a bottom. wall,upright side walls and upright end walls, a member spaced verticallyfrom cabinet bottom wall and extending from one end wall to the otherend wall of said cabinet to divide the interior thereof into an upperchamber and a lower chamber, a food supporting device inset within saidupper chamber and mounted in spaced relation to said member to form ahorizontal passageway therebetween, said device being spaced from saidcabinet side walls to provide an uptake air passage along one side wallof said cabinet and a return air passage along the other side wallthereof, said device including a plurality of spaced apart verticalhollow iiues extending thereacross and dividing the same into separatefood storage compartments, said flues having their bottom endcommunicating with said horizontal passageway, said member being spacedfrom said cabinet side walls to permit communication oi said airpassages with said upper and said lower chambers respectively, means forcirculating air downwardly from said upper chamber through said returnair passag transversely across said lower chamber and back to said upperchamber through said uptake air passage, some of the air circulated intosaid uptake passage flowing into said horizontal passageway in adirection parallelincr said flues, means cooperating with the openbottom end of said hollow ues and extending laterally therefrom withinsaid horizontal passageway for scooping a portion of the air enteringthe same upwardly through said flues, means for directing that portionof the air passing said air scooping means downwardly out of saidhorizontal passageway into said lower chamber wherein it is mixed withair circulated downwardly from said upper chamber through said returnair passage, and refrigerating means within said lower chamber in thepath of mixed air flowing thereacross for cooling the same.

l0. In a refrigerated display case, a cabinet including a bottom wall,upright side walls and upright end walls, a member spaced verticallyfrom said cabinet bottom wall and extending from one end wall to theother end wall of said cabinet to divide the interior thereof into anupper chamber and a lower chamber, a food supporting device inset withinsaid upper chamber and mounted in spaced relation to said member to forma horizontal passageway therebetween, said device being spaced from saidcabinet side walls to provide an uptake air passage along one side wallof said cabinet and a return air passage along the other side wallthereof, said device including a, plurality of spaced apart verticalhollow flues extending thereacross and dividing the same into separatefood storage compartments, said flues having their bottorn endcommunicating with said horizontal passageway, said member being spacedfrom said cabinet side walls to permit communication of said airpassages with said upper and said lower chambers respectively, means forcirculating air downwardly from said upper chamber through said returnair passage, transversely across said lower chamber and back to saidupper chamber through said uptake air passage, some of the air crculatedinto said uptake passage flowing into said horizontal passageway fromone side to substantially the other side thereof in a directionparalleling said iiues, air scoops cooperating with the open bottom endoi said hollow ues for directing a portion of the air entering saidpassageway upwardly through said flues, said air scoops including wingsdisposed in said horizontal passageway in spaced relation to saiddividing member and extending laterally from the sides of said iiues,closure means for said other side of said horizontal passageway, meanswithin said horizontal passageway spaced inwardly from said closuremeans thereof for directing that portion of the air passing said scoopsdownwardly out of said horizontal passageway into said lower chamberwherein it is mixed with air circulated downwardly from said upperchamber through said return air passage, and refrigerating means withinsaid lower chamber in the path of mixed air flowing thereacross forcooling the same.

11. In a refrigerated display case, an elongated open top cabinetincluding a bottom wall, upright side walls and upright end walls, amember spaced vertically from said cabinet bottom wall and extendingfrom one end wall to the other end wall of said cabinet to divide theinterior thereof into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a foodsupporting device inset within said upper chamber and mounted in spacedrelation to said dividing member to form a horizontal passagewaytherebetween, said device being spaced from said cabinet side walls toprovide a return air passage along one side wall and an uptake airpassage along the other side wall thereof, a delector cap over saiduptake air passage, said device including a plurality of spaced apartvertical hollow flues extending thereacross and dividing the same intoseparate open top food storage compartments, said ues having theirbottom end communicating with said horizontal passageway, said memberbeing spaced from said cabinet side walls to permit communication ofsaid air passages with said upper and said lower chambers respectively,means for circulating air downwardly from said upper chamber throughsaid return air passage, transversely across said lower chamber and backto said upper chamber over foods stored in said compartments throughsaid uptake air passage, some oi the air circulated into said uptakepassage flowing into said horizontal passageway from one side tosubstantially the other side thereof, said device dividing the airentering said horizontal passageway into a plurality of streams of airsome of which flow substantially across said horizontal passageway whileothers iiow upwardly through said flues and over food stored in saidcompartments, closure means for said other side of said horizontalpassageway, means spaced inwardly from said closure means for directingair flowing across said horizontal passageway through said dividingmember and into said lower chamber wherein it is mixed with aircirculated downwardly from said upper chamber through said return airpassage, refrigerating means within said lower chamber in the path ofmixed air flowing thereacross for cooling the same to a temperaturebelow freezing, and electric heating means disposed in thermal exchangerelationship with said uptake air passage deflector cap and with saidpassageway closure means for warming the same and preventing formationof frost or ice thereon.

l2. In a refrigerated display case, an elongated open top cabinetincluding a bottom wall, upright side walls and upright end walls, amember spaced vertically from said cabinet bottom wall and extendingfrom one end wall to the other end wall of said cabinet to divide theinterior thereof into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a foodsupporting device inset within said upper chamber and mounted in spacedrelation to said dividing member to form a horizontal passagewaytherebetween, said device being spaced from said cabinet side walls toprovide a return air passage along one side wall and an uptake airpassage along the other side wall thereof, a deiiector cap over saiduptake air passage, said device including a plurality of spaced apartvertical hollow fiues extending thereacross and dividing the same intoseparate open top food storage compartments, said iiues having theirbottom end communicating with said horizontal passageway, said memberbeing spaced from said cabinet side walls to permit communication ofsaid air passages with said upper and said lower chambers respectively,means for circulating air downwardly from said upper chamber throughsaid return air passage, transversely across said lower chamber and backto said upper chamber over foods stored in said compartments throughsaid uptake air passage, some of the air circulated into said uptakepassage flowing into said horizontal passageway from one side tosubstantially the other side thereof, said device dividing the airentering said horizontal passageway into a plurality of streams of airsome of which flow substantialiy across said horizontal passageway whileothers flow upwardly through said flues and over food stored in saidcompartments, closure means for said other side of said horizontalpassageway, means spaced inwardly from said closure means for directingair flowing across said horizontal passageway through said dividingmember and into said lower chamber wherein it is mixed with aircirculated downwardly from said upper chamber through said return airpassage, refrigerating means within said lower chamber in the path ofmixed air flowing thereacross for cooling the same to a temperaturebelow freezing, and electric means disposed in thermal exchangerelationship with the inner surface of theV upper portion of saidcabinet side and end walls, with said uptake air passage deiiector capand with said passageway closure means for warming the same.

13. In a refrigerated display case, an open top cabinet including abottom wall, upright side walls and upright end walls, a partitioningmember spaced vertically from said cabinet bottom Wall and dividing theinterior of the cabinet into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, afood supporting device inset within said upper chamber and mounted invertically spaced relation to said partitioning member to form apassageway therebetween, said device including spaced apart hollowvertical flues extending thereacross and dividing the same into aplurality of open top food storage compartments, said flues having theirbottom end communicating with said passageway, said device being spacedfrom each of two opposed upright walls of said cabinet to provide airpassages therearound communicating with said upper and said lowerchambers, means within said lower chamber for cooling air in saidcabinet, means for circulating the cooled air about said device andsubstantially across said passageway, means within said passageway c0-operating with the open bottom end of said flues, and said last namedmeans including wings disposed at an angle relative to the flow of airacross said passageway for scooping some of the air upwardly throughsaid nues.

14. In an open-top refrigerated display case, a cabinet including abottom wall, upright side walls and upright end walls, a member spacedvertically from said cabinet bottom wall and dividing the interiorthereof into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a food supportingdevice inset within said upper chamber and mounted in spaced relation tosaid member to form a horizontal passageway therebetween, said devicebeing spaced from said cabinet side walls to provide an uptake airpassage along one side wall of said cabinet and a return air passagealong the other side wall thereof, said device including a plurality ofspaced apart vertical hollow ues extending thereacross and dividing thesame into separate open-top food storage compartments, said flues havingtheir bottom end communicating with said horizontal passageway, saidmember being spaced from said cabinet side walls to permit communicationof said air passages with said upper and said lower chambersrespectively, means for circulating air downwardly from said upperchamber through said return air passage, transversely across said lowerchamber and back to said upper chamber through said uptake air passage,means within said cabinet for cooling the air circulated therein, someof the air circulated transversely across said lower chamber toward saiduptake passage flowing into said horizontal passageway in a directionparalleling said iiues, and means within said passageway depending fromand cooperating with the open bottom end of said hollow iiues forscooping a portion of the air entering the passageway upwardly throughsaid flues.

l5. In a refrigerated display case, a cabinet including a bottom wall,upright side walls and upright end walls, a member spaced verticallyfrom said cabinet bottom wall and extending from one end wall to theother end wall of said cabinet to divide the interior thereof into anupper chamber and a lower chamber, a food supporting device inset withinsaid upper chamber and mounted in spaced relation to said member to forma horizontal passageway therebetween, said device being spaced from saidcabinet side walls to provide an uptake air passage along one side wallof said cabinet and a return air passage along the other side wallthereof, said device including a plurality of spaced apart verticalhollow iiues extending thereacross and dividing the same into separatefood storage compartments, said flues having their bottom endcommunicatingZ with said horizontal passageway, said mem-v ber beingspaced from said cabinet side Walls to permit communication with saidair passages with said upper and said lower` chambers respectively,means for circulating air downwardly from said upper chamber throughsaid return air passage, transversely across said lower charnber andback to said upper chamber through said uptake air passage, some of theair circulating toward said uptake passage flowing into said horizontalpassageway, the air flowing into said passageway being divided into aplurality of streams of air one of which ows transversely across saidcabinet beneath said food compartments toward said return passage Whileothers ow upwardly through said ues and are discharged into,

means for directing said one stream of air out of said horizontalpassageway into said lower` chamber in the vicinity of said anothercabinet side wall wherein it mixes with air circulated downwardly fromsaid upper chamber through said return air passage, and refrigeratingmeans within said lower chamber in the path of mixed air flowingthereover for cooling the same.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,255,947 Starr Sept. 16, 1941 2,574,242 Brill Nov. 6, 19512,631,438 Weber Mar. 17, 1953

